Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Sued for $1 Million by Former Drummer

Mature Themes, the latest album from Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, is one of the most anticipated indie releases of the summer. Now, just a few days shy of the disc's August 21 release date, the Los Angeles group have been hit a with a whopping $1 million lawsuit from former drummer Aaron Sperske.

According to Sperske's suit [via The Entertainment Law Digest/Pitchfork], he and Ariel Pink (aka Ariel Rosenberg), Tim Koh and Kenny Gilmore entered into an "oral partnership agreement in 2008" to become Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. Following this agreement, the band members "shared equally in the profits and expenses of the partnership."

On May 15 of this year, however, the other band members "attempted to expel [Sperske] from the partnership, in violation of the oral partnership agreement," according to court documents. Now, the drummer is seeking credit for have apparently co-written all of the songs from Mature Themes (aside from the cover of Joe & Donnie Emerson's "Baby") and performed on the album.

Sperske wants an equal 25 percent share in ownership of the songs, and seeks royalties from future touring. The suit says that the exact amount of money he is owed will be "proven at trial," but is "in no event less than $1 million."

Prior to the release date, stream Mature Themes in full right here. Read the full lawsuit here.